The US orders every civilian agency to rip out DeepSeek, even tools built on it (madrobot.blog)

The U.S. government has mandated that all federal civilian agencies remove DeepSeek, a Chinese AI tool, from their systems and cease any acquisition of its products, including third-party tools built on its models. This order, issued by the Department of Homeland Security and cited as a response to potential security risks, highlights concerns about DeepSeek's data collection practices and the implications of Chinese law allowing government access to private company infrastructures. The broad nature of the order means agencies must not only eliminate DeepSeek’s models but also monitor their networks for any related traffic. This significant action represents the most extensive U.S. crackdown on a Chinese AI entity to date, reflecting rising tensions regarding data security and foreign influence in technology. By extending the ban to include third-party tools utilizing DeepSeek's models, the government places the onus on AI vendors to ensure compliance, potentially reshaping procurement practices across the tech industry. As Chinese AI models are among the most widely used globally, this development underscores the increasing scrutiny over AI technologies and their origins, indicating a trend towards greater accountability and safety in AI deployments.